Geddey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

The ancestors of the bearers of the Geddey family name are thought have lived in ancient Anglo-Saxon England. They were first found the ancient Hebrew name Gideon, meaning one who cuts down.

Early Origins of the Geddey family

The surname Geddey was first found in Hampshire where Herbert Gidi was the first on record at Winton in 1115. Further north, Walter le Gidye was listed in the Assize Rolls for Yorkshire in 1219 and later Roger Geddy was listed in the Pipe Rolls there in 1230. 1

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Nicholas de Gidd, Huntingdonshire. 2 And in Somerset, Ralph Gydye, and John Gydye were both listed 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) 3

In Scotland, John Gedy (fl. 1370), was Abbot of Arbroath. He was " 'the worthy abbot of Aberbrothock' of Southey's 'Inchcape Bell,' and was in office in 1370 when he entered into an engagement regarding the judge or doomster of the regality. His seal is appended to the act of parliament which regulated the succession to the crown in 1371. " 4

Early History of the Geddey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Geddey research. Another 57 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1697, 1699, 1720, 1729, 1753 and 1762 are included under the topic Early Geddey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Geddey Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Geddey include Giddy, Giddie, Gideon, Gedy, Geddy, Geddey and others.

Early Notables of the Geddey family

Distinguished members of the family include Sir Charles Gideon; and Sampson Gideon (1699-1762), a Jewish-British banker in London, he was a trusted "adviser of the Government," and a supporter of the Jew Bill of 1753. " His father, Rowland Gideon (d. 1720), a West India merchant, who was a freeman of the city of London and on the court of the Painter Stainers' Company (admitted 17 Feb. 1697), had changed his name from the Portuguese...
Another 74 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Geddey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Geddey family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Geddey or a variant listed above: James Giddie who settled in New England in 1805.

Contemporary Notables of the name Geddey (post 1700) +

Alan Geddey, Executive

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print